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Hackney launches Toys Gift Appeal 2019

Hackney is staging its own Toy Story this Christmas with an appeal to families across the borough to gift outgrown and unwanted toys that other children can enjoy after the festive season to Hackney’s Toys Gift Appeal.

Hackney Council, in partnership with Forest Recycling Project, will run pre-loved toy collections at seven venues across the borough between Thursday 3 January and Wednesday 23 January 2019.

Many families will be flooded with new toys this Christmas to the delight of children who are fortunate to receive them, but spare a thought for the old toys clogging up cupboards and exceeding their shelf life that are still in good condition but now overlooked, outgrown, and no longer played with. The Council are asking residents to spread goodwill this festive season and declutter their homes at the same time by asking them to donate unwanted toys which will be gifted to other children in the borough throughcharitable organisations and educational centres.

Last year, the scheme collectedover 1,500 toys worth more than £5,500. Toys were donated to Homerton Hope for children receiving treatments, as well as the Rehabilitation Company in north London for children of parents on probation and also spread widely across Children’s Centres across Hackney. This year, the Council hopes to receive even more toys which should be donated in a good condition and fit to be shared with other children. Residents can place their pre-loved toys in the containers provided at the following locations:

Linden Children’s Centre- they offer a wide range of services and free fun activities for all families with children under five

Lloyds Park Children's Charity - the Baby Bank- they support vulnerable families including families affected by domestic violence and poverty

Equalities National Council- they focus on delivering expert advocacy and mentoring support for and on behalf of BME disabled people and their carers and people suffering with long term impairments

The Silverlining Charity -theyoffer opportunities for all those affected by brain injury to get involved in exciting and purposeful activities in the community

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Christmas is a hugely special time for children, but sadly also a time when concern for the environment is at the back of many people’s minds. This can lead to toys being needlessly thrown away while other children go without. It is estimated that 13 million toys in perfectly good condition, and 8.5 million new toys, end up as waste each year. This has big implications for our environment, too, from plastic waste to greenhouse gas emissions from manufacturing and shipping toys around the world.

Christmas is a time of giving, but those things we give don’t have to be new. Santa has been asked only to give pre-loved toys to my children this year, and we’ll be donating our unused ones to the Hackney Toy Gift Appeal 2019. Keeping toys in circulation is good for kids and our planet, which is struggling to cope with our approach to waste and this will be great bonus for families after the festive season.